ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi government on Saturday deployed army near the Peshmerga frontlines in Garmiyan area in Sulaimani province, Kurdistan 24 correspondent reported.

Harem Jaff, Kurdistan 24 correspondent in Kalar district, the center of Garmiyan Administration, said the Iraqi government deployed army forces in the area to seize control over two checkpoints that have been controlled by the Kurdish forces since 2003.

The two checkpoints are located between the districts of Kalar and Jalawla in Diyala.

Following the deployment, large forces of Kurdish police and the Peshmerga forces were sent to the area to stop the Iraqi army from advancing.

Jaff said Iraqi and Kurdish forces are only a few hundred meters apart but they have not clashed.

A Kurdish security official said that they will not withdraw from the area because the area is Kurdish and protected by the Peshmerga forces, Jaff added.

Jamal Qadouri, Garmiyan Police Spokesperson told the press that the Kurdish and Iraqi forces are meeting to discuss the situation.

Qadouri said that the Iraqi army has to withdraw from the area, stating that the checkpoints will be jointly administrated by the Kurdish and Iraqi federal police as part of the initial agreement.

The police spokesperson explained that the Iraqi forces had plans to forcibly remove the Kurdish Peshmerga from the area.